Not a great deal of interest in SA on this forum but I continued to be impressed with the vastly improved selection downtown. Hein and Adi are reported to be turning out some great wines (look for the Secateurs White I am told).

Light garnet colour, nose has spice, some smoke, raspberry, and a hint of perfume. Thought it needed a tad more expression however.

Initial entry thought was smooth, soft tannins, medium-bodied. Not anyway close to a fruit bomb but nice structure. "Redcurrant" from across the table, cherry on day 2 and still very drinkable. Good all-round balance here, hard to pinpoint SA though but in a way this red illustrates the progress being made in SA. Buy more for sure!

Here's another fan of SA, particularly the Chenin Blancs. More and more are available here all the time, mostly in the lower price range. They are good and have whetted my appetite for better ones that are advertised but have yet to show up much on the shelves.

Bob, I understand your enthusiasm about South Africa a lot better now that I've received this month's issue of the Wine Advocate and Neal Martin's piece on the "Ten [South African] Producers You Need to Know."

Thanks Dan and Clint. Another Chenin Blanc from Rudera has shown up downtown so will try this weekend..and under $20 Cdn too.I would love to check out the WA piece but guess I would have to re-subscribe .Clint, could you list some of the names for me?

Frustratingly we don't see many South African wines here in mainstream wine shops. There's one shop in a busy part of Brussels, which specialises in non-French wine and has a few good ones, and one or two specialist importers in Flanders.

It will be even more difficult when we move to Normandy to find non-French wines, though I was surprised to find an Italian wine and delicatessen shop just off the main street in small town, Pont-Audemer,where we were visiting estate agents. However, I suspect that is just about as exotic as it gets.

I'm tempted to stock up on non-French wines before we move but storage is going to be a problem in the new house. This thought reminds me to post a thread asking for advice on insulation, etc.

Some time ago in a posting on Squires, Parker wrote that the 2005 Anwilka Stellenbosch, a Cab-Syrah blend, was "the finest red wine I have ever had from South Africa." I made a note of that, and when Garagiste offered it severa months later I ordered a half case and later drank the first bottle in March this year. It needed lots of air and was better on the second day. If anyone has tasted the wine more recently, I'd like to know how it's drinking now. I have no idea how these things age, although the label indicates its an ager.

Thanks for the list Clint, great to see Mullineux up there. Lots of flag waving on the UK forum too. Think De Morgenzon is in town somewhere?Spotted a new CB from Rudera, the Lula label so will give it a crack asap.

Dan Smothergill wrote:Here's another fan of SA, particularly the Chenin Blancs. More and more are available here all the time, mostly in the lower price range. They are good and have whetted my appetite for better ones that are advertised but have yet to show up much on the shelves.

I'm in Syracuse Bob, quite a ways from Chambers St. I looked at their web site today and saw just a couple of South Africans. The "shelves" I see extend from here to Rochester and Ithaca, occasionally Buffalo. We've actually got a pretty good selection in the overall area.

Hi Bob, BC has really been increasing their list of SA wines lately - in the last year or so. They have stayed with the fairly large, pedestrian producers that create quaffers, unfortunately, but there are some nice wines available. Conde-Starke makes very good reds, for example, and the Bellingham Bernard Series Chenin Blanc is quite good. Maybe they are available in AB too?

I've been lucky enough to have visited SA twice, and spent from 5-10 days in several wine regions on each trip. There really is some great wine being made now, but - as in many countries - most of the good stuff doesn't find its way to Canada. The strides they have made in the last 10-15 years has really been something to see (and taste!).

I have to admit that the chance of me buying a merlot would be minimal but staff downtown thought I should try this one as I am a Rudera fan. Lula is a newish label for them and how could I refuse this $15 value! Good heads up from the staff at the store for sure, there is also a Chenin Blanc lined up .

WTN: 2012 Lula Merlot Western Cape SA.

Good natural cork, did not show the 15.5% alc, $15 Cdn, nice looking package.Plum and red berries on the nose. Initial entry thought is ripe fruit but not jammy. Have to wonder if this has seen any oak?Cassis, black cherry, fair acidity, opened up after an hour and still good on day 2 but no evolvement. Plums, some earth, great wine for those looking for something under 20 bucks.

Following up on the Luuuula (!) merlot, lets have a look at their Chenin Blanc.

WTN: 2012 Lula Chenin Blanc Western Cape.

Have to say right off the bat that mother company Rudera produces some of the best CB out there so I was interested to try the Lula. Turned out to be just an OK wine but might need some time in the bottle to develope further?

Colour is a pale lemon. Tart apple on the nose with some typical wet wool tones. Nothing really stands out here, and even on day 2 no real development.Initial entry thought is again tart apple but wine lacks real CB personality. Finish does lengthen with some air but still off-dry and not a lot of ripe fruit period. Some pineapple, lemon, hint of pear.This wine is quite similar to the Spier I posted on a while back but that wine had more character overall.

Light straw yellow, floral nose with peach, melon and pear. Think the viognier is a big plus here. "Think this has seen some oak" from across the table.Hints of residual sugar on entry, firm acidity, good length. Mainly tart at first and some citrus but some tropical fruits show by the second glass, nutty too. Good value and nice intro to SA.

A few other names , available in BC (either BCLDB or Marquis Wines or direct from the agent) : Eben Sadie Palladius and Columella - high end Springfontein Sauvignon Blanc - middle range, Loire Valley style Shannon Pinot Noir - mid range and great value Boekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block - very good but overpriced Hamilton Russell Chardonnay - not cheap at $45 but a very good Burgundy ringer Colmant Brut - excellent bubbly which can almost pass for Champagne. The white is much better than the Rose Mooiplas Rosalind - mid range Bordeaux blend Backsberg Family Reserve - another Bordeaux blend, also mid -range

Other names to watch for, although no longer available in BC: Vergelegen flagship wine - I have never had a less than outstanding experience with this house Vergenoegd Estate - mid range and great value

Dan Smothergill wrote:Here's another fan of SA, particularly the Chenin Blancs. More and more are available here all the time, mostly in the lower price range. They are good and have whetted my appetite for better ones that are advertised but have yet to show up much on the shelves.

I will be presenting two tasting sessions on South African wines, one on Chenin and one on Pinotage, at this years American Wine Society National Conference in Charlotte-Concord, North Carolina - Oct 30 thru Nov 1

David N wrote:Vergelegen flagship wine - I have never had a less than outstanding experience with this house

Vergelegen, Kanonkop (Paul Sauer), and Boschendal are some of the top wines in SA. I had the pleasant experience of tasting the range of Vergelegen wines in their exquisite tasting room overlooking the splendid mountains in the background back in 2005. An experience I'll never forget. it was my first experience in "spitting" but I caught on quickly. I advise all of my friends before going to Europe that they need to practice spitting, lest they not enjoy the rest of their day. If I remember correctly, "veregelegen" means a place far away, though it is not that far from Cape Town. They have probably the most advanced winery in SA, all gravity flow.

Color is a lightish lemon, not a big nose at first, used various glasses to find a bouquet but had to wonder if this wine was closed?? My previous notes mention honeysuckle, pear, lemon.In my opinion CB imparts the acidity and some tropical fruits. The Clairette should offer a freshness and appealing fruit. We all know the apricot and peach appeal of Viognier...so what happened here? Medium bodied but lacks the pizazz of previous bottle. Lacks most of what I outlined so have to wonder if this suffered some heat damage on a wharf somewhere? Pity but one more in the cellar so we will see.